Fastening for shoes.



W. M. MALONE (in J. T. ONBILL. FASTENING FOR SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7; 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN co WASHINGTON 1). cv

WILLIAM MACQUAR-IE MALONE, F WANDI, NARRABRI, AND JOHN THOMAS ONEILL,

OF NARRABRI, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNORS TO MALONES FAS- TENER LIMITED, OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

FASTENING FOR SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed March 7, 1912. Serial No. 682,319.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM HAC UARIE MALONE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and residing at Wandi, Narrabri, in the State of New South Wales and Commonwealth of Australia, journalist, and JOHN THOMAS ONEILL, also a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Maitland street, Narrabri, aforesaid, storekeeper, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fastenings for boots, shoes, gaiters, spats, gloves, corsets, and other articles of personal wear and the like where two opposing parts are required to be held together against a normal tendency to separate and this invention has been specially devised in order to provide such fastenings which not only will hold the parts secure but will so hold them with a resilient flexibility which will allow them and said fastenings to adapt themselves to the movement of the parts to which they are connected and which will provide that the fastenings may be adjusted to suit the convenience of various uses and that when once so adjusted may fasten and unfasten the opposing parts without interference with said adjustment and further that said fastenings may have the appearance of ordinary lacing with bow or knot.

The fastenings to which this invent-ion relates comprise keeper pieces attached to the opposing edges to be fastened together and a keeper or runner adapted to clip over and be drawn along said keeper pieces. But in order that the carrying of the invention into practice may be well understood the same will now be described with reference to the drawings herewith in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boot with fastener in its released position leaving free the opposing edges of the opening. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with the opposing edges and the opening closed and fastened. Fig. 3 is a view of the keeper; Fig. 4 is a view of'the runner; Fig. 5 is a detail of the runner; Fig. 6 shows a modified form for the lower end of the runner; Fig. 7 is another detail of the runner; Fig. 8 is a section across the runner and keeper.

The keeper 9 (see Fig. 3) is of plain wire having a plurality of bent or inturned feet 10 brazed or otherwise aiiiXed and by means of such feet 10 the keeper is aiiixed to the opposing edges 12 of the opening (see Fig. 1.) which is required to be closed. And the bight or return 11 of this U shaped keeper is tempered so that said keeper 9 shall have flexibility and the opening stretched apart within limits as may be desired. At top there are hooks or catches as shown adapted to engage with the top of the runner. The runner (see Fig. 1-) consists of upper or pull piece having a return or bight 1 1 more or less flexible so that the limbs or members 13 will more or less resiliently spread apart and normally remain apart. This pull piece has eyes 15 taking on link 17 with a spring 16 between said eyes to assist in the resiliency before mentioned. To this pull piece the hook pieces 18 which as shown (Fig. 4) are flat are aflixed by two sets of bridges or strips 19, 20 and 21 and these hook pieces 18 take under the keepers 9 at either side. The runner is covered with light leather or suitable material 22 see Fig. 5) in keeping with the boot or article on which it is used and it has not only for ornament but for use eyelets through which pass an ordinary lace 23.

In use after the boot or other article is positioned in its place the runner is drawn up as shown in Fig. 2 the lace 23 is tightened and tied or knotted and a comfortable adjustment thereby attained which adjustment under ordinary circumstances is retained throughout the life of the boot except for later small adjustment if required to compensate for stretching of material. To remove the boot or other article it is then only necessary to release the link from the catches and to push the runner downwardly as shown in Fig. 1 when the boot is easily removable from the foot.

Having now fully described and ascertained our said invention and the manner in which it is to be performed we declare that what we claim is A fastener of the class described comprising two straight spring strips, one permanently fastened on each side of the opening to be closed, in combination with a lJ-shaped runner, the bend of which is resilient, said runner being provided With hooked pieces names to this specification in the presence of fastened under said strips, sald runner being tWo subscribing Witnesses.

adapted to slide on said strips and remain in WILLIAM MACQUARIE MALONE- engagement substantially throughout the J ()HN THOMAS ONEILL. 5 length thereof when the fastener is in closed Vitnesses:

position. HENRY V. MUMFORD,

In testimony whereof We have signed our L. H. EATHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington I). O. 

